Really, really long metric hex keys?

[Plasmatic]

So, I know that both Eklind and Bondhus make a selection of both 6" and 12" long inch hex keys. But neither of them appear to make a comparable product in metric sizes.

Does anyone make a good quality set of metric hex keys in comparable lengths? There have been a couple of times where something like that would have been quite handy...

 

[gibbon_guy]

European cars? What is the application?

 

[sickboy motors inc.]

snap on should make a brand of these I know a while back I had to get a set of torx drivers for my compressor tear down and they had exactly what I was looking for long style security torx they should have a version of a hex with a handle or maybe even in the t handle

 

[lwlobo]

PB Swiss makes very long hex keys, probably the best on the market, but they're $$.

FYI, you can get quite long T handles from Bondhus in both std and metric.

 

[OEXL16B]

So, I know that both Eklind and Bondhus make a selection of both 6" and 12" long inch hex keys. But neither of them appear to make a comparable product in metric sizes.

The Bondhus extra long metric set is SBLX9MB

 

[rodm1]

The Bondhus extra long metric set is SBLX9MB

Those are stubbys, I don't think the handle would be any longer then slandered.

 

[Kevin54]

Are you looking for a set with a "T" handle, or a set with the ratchet attachment on the end?

 

[Plasmatic]

Thanks for the replies, everyone!

European cars? What is the application?

I work on a variety of laboratory-type equipment. I've wanted something particularly long for things like reaching screws buried deep inside an electronic equipment case without having to take the whole rest of the darn thing apart to taking apart the cartridge on a rotary vane vacuum pump.

PB Swiss makes very long hex keys, probably the best on the market, but they're $$.

FYI, you can get quite long T handles from Bondhus in both std and metric.

Are you looking for a set with a "T" handle, or a set with the ratchet attachment on the end?

I'll take a look at the PB Swiss, thanks! I was envisioning L-keys like what Bondhus 25445 is for inch, but T-handles would probably do the trick as well if not better for a lot of cases. It's just that sometimes space is cramped and the L-keys fit where the big T-handle doesn't...

 

[Mike_C]

I needed a long T-Handle 5mm wrench once, ended up buying a 1/4" T-Handle and a 5mm L-Wrench. Cut a inch or so off the 5mm and welded it onto the end of the 1/4".

 

[Plasmatic]

Well, I just took a look at the Bondhus T-handles, and it looks like they've got metric T-handles in 14" length (but not inch in that length!). Funny how the two lines don't mirror each other...

 

[pacsguy]

Well, I just took a look at the Bondhus T-handles, and it looks like they've got metric T-handles in 14" length (but not inch in that length!). Funny how the two lines don't mirror each other...

Part number?

 

[Plasmatic]

Part number?

http://www.bondhus.com/bondhus_products/tool_categories/t-handles/hex.html
(down towards the bottom)

3.0: 16456
4.0: 16460
5.0: 16464
6.0: 16468
8.0: 16472

 

[afazz]

Check out Eklind t handles, they make long ones in inch and metric. If you require an L shape, you can saw part of the handle off.

 

[greasemonkey44]

you could weld the allens to the end of some extensions
or buy hex stock, and bend to your needs

 

[Biomed]

So, I know that both Eklind and Bondhus make a selection of both 6" and 12" long inch hex keys. But neither of them appear to make a comparable product in metric sizes.

Does anyone make a good quality set of metric hex keys in comparable lengths? There have been a couple of times where something like that would have been quite handy...

Why not get a set of 1/4" drive metric hex sockets like this:

Then you can use a ratchet or spinner handle with 1/4" drive extensions as needed. You can get 1/4" drive extensions from 2" up to several feet in length. Lots easier to carry around than foot long T-handle hex wrenches and if you break the hex bit in the socket it can easily (and cheaply) be replaced. If you have any concern about the socket coming off the extension(s) you can get locking extensions. You can even get locking spinner handles from VIM like this:

That whole set of handles is only $34 from Tooltopia.

 

[zuk123]

Biomed, sometimes you don't have the clearance for the fatter couplers, and sometimes you don't want to take a chance of them coming apart and falling into the device. And sometimes, all those extensions aren't very stiff, and using them to 'thread the needle' and get into a device horizontally won't work.

I work on high end projectors and we have one adjustment that is best done with 2 @ 5mm 14" long drivers. Nothing else fits without taking lots of parts off, and you can't actually do the adjustment with the parts off...

Sometimes the right tool is the only tool.

As an aside, a simple 1/2" access hole in the case, with a cover button, would have saved 1000's of cumulative hours in the field. Of course the design was never changed.

To get back to the OP's question, I eventually found a supplier for the Bondhaus drivers that actually had them for sale. Someone online.

zuk

PS we've come an amazing distance. When I started looking, Amazon was brand new and it took some real effort. Now, you can google and find tons of online suppliers. Remember when the most info you would get from a supplier or distributor was a line card? Now you can see their stock levels at 4am from your house.

Edit link--

http://www.bondhus.com/bondhus_products/tool_categories/screwdrivers/ball.html

Has the part numbers for singles in the 'extra long' size, also at the very bottom, has the parts for customer spec'd "out of handle" length.

 

[bcradio]

You can even get locking spinner handles from VIM like this:

That whole set of handles is only $34 from Tooltopia.

Anyone have a link for these?... they look pretty sweet

 

[Hetman]

If you can't buy anything, make yourself ideal tool .

 

[MotoDave]

mcmaster.com shows several choices for both T and L handle metric hex key sets. I just bought an inch t-handle long set, and they are made by Eklind.

 

[PAPERMAKER]

I have a set of Wiha hexes that are extra long, check these out.

http://www.wihatools.com/300seri/369mmserie.htm

 

[RCStocker]

I have a shoe box full of extra allen wrenches.
I just take a long one and cut it off before the bend. Then I take the matching socket to size and unscrew the set screw, pull the short one out and put the long one in. I have ended up with so many extra hex sockes with and without the hex wrench. You can find them at swap meets all the time for $1 each or less. It really does not matter the brand. They all work.

If you need it longer than a long allen just order some hex stock and cut to lenght. You can buy Hex stock in everthing form brass to hardened steel.

I made my long set. I have welded a rod to the short end of the hex wrench. I made my first set of T handled ones back in the 60's when I worked in friends machine shop. There were boxes of old hex wrenches and we needed longer ones.

 

[4x4gearhead]

My boss has a long set of Wihas that seem to be a good wrench, I was admiring them the other day, they come in a tool kit in one of the vehicles we sell.